National Library of Scotland
Address: George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EW
The National Library of Scotland’s main building is located on George IV Bridge in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Its holds over 15 million books and printed items, plus many manuscripts, maps, films, newspapers and magazines. As a legal deposit library, it is one of only a handful of libraries with the right to claim a copy of every book published in the UK and Ireland, adding thousands of books to its collection every week.
The library was established in 1925 by an Act of Parliament, but it wasn’t until 1956 that its main building on George IV Bridge opened, delayed by the events of World War II. It was designed by architect Reginald Fairlie, who sadly died 4 years before the building was completed. The exterior stonework features seven large figures by Scottish sculptor, Hew Lorimer, which represent history, law, medicine, music, poetry, science and theology.
5 things to do at the National Library of Scotland
- Register for access to the collections in the Readers’ Registration area. As a new visitor, you can have a basic induction session. You can also take part in workshops.
- Use the reading rooms to look at the library’s collections (this is not a lending library, so you can’t take items home with you). There is a General Reading Room (journals, newspapers and post-1850 printed books), a Special Collections Reading Room (manuscripts, music and rare books), and a Multimedia Room (microforms and multimedia).
- View the library’s online reference material and digitised collections.
- Get a glimpse of the library’s full collection through a rolling programme of exhibits on particular themes. There is also a permanent archive exhibition.
- Visit the library’s on site café and shop.
